Title: Wilder Girls
Author: Rory Power
Genres: Young adult, horror, mystery
Published: July 9th 2019, by Delacorte Press
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It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her.
It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything.
But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.

It’s like that, with all of us here. Sick, strange, and we don’t know why. Things bursting out of us, bits missing and pieces sloughing off, and then we harden and smooth over.

There's a lot to love about Wilder Girls. The atmosphere, the prose - it leads to a lot of chilling scenes that makes the horror elements so well done. It starts out fairly slow, with our mc at her school and sort of explaining what her world is, and I found myself itching for it to really pick up. It wasn't until about the halfway mark that it started to build, but once it did, I couldn't put it down. I loved the body horror & creepy tox that spreads and changes girls.

But my favourite thing about the world was this sense of acceptance - these girls on this island, they're allowed to be monstrous. Every girl there has changed in a way that is seen as unnatural or inhuman, yet to them it has become normal - they've adapted to it, and for some, there's even a sense of pride. The juxtaposition (though subtle) between these men off the island, trying to find a cure, and terrified of what these girls have become, versus how the girls have adapted is very well done. There's also just, unapologetic sapphic relationships and characters which was so nice.

She’s never liked us much, not since she complained that there were no boys on the island, and Reese gave her the blankest look I’ve ever seen and said, “Plenty of girls, though."

From about half way through to the 90% mark, I was loving this. I enjoyed the pov of the main character's best friend more than the main character's, it was creepy and disjointed and lead to some clever untangling of the plot, but the last 10% kind of let this down for me. The build up was so exciting that when I got to the conclusion it just felt - disappointing. I wanted more from it. The ending was very abrupt and felt almost rushed, and there were some plot threads that I felt wrapped up in an unsatisfying way (and one I noticed wasn't explained at all), which isn't necessarily an inherently bad thing in a horror novel, but somehow didn't work here for me. This however does not mean this book is bad at all (in fact a lot about it is fantastic), and I feel like the good outweighs the less good.

Ultimately the best thing about this book for me was the build up, the scenes of body horror, and the narrative of the way these girls have adapted to their changes. I'd recommend giving this a go if you're looking for a unique sapphic horror story - especially if you're fairly new to the horror genre.

Trigger warning for: self harm, suicide, body horror, gore

Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Author: Mackenzi Lee
Genres: Young adult, historical, romance
Published: June 27th 2017, by Katherine Tegen Books
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Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.
But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.
Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

We are cracked pottery mended with lacquer and flakes of gold, whole as we are, complete unto each other. Complete and worthy and so very loved.

If I had to use one word to sum up The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue it would be: fun. A wild 18th century adventure spanning the length of a tour across Europe, with mystery, a bisexual main character who finds himself in the most awkward encounters, and pirates to boot? Sounds like it couldn't be anything but fantastic with a premise like that. And it really, really is. It has mystery, intrigue, fantastic characters, a heartwarming romance - I genuinely enjoyed reading The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue so much more than I expected to, even with such a great blurb.

Something I really need more of in my life is LGBT+ historical fiction. I'm always looking for it, and get so excited when I find it, and for this book to have so much of what I look in a novel - I was more than excited. The main character, his feisty little sister, and his best friend (and boy he's madly in love with) are such a fun trio to join crossing Europe in their last hurrah turned frantic adventure of mystery and the fantastical. Monty isn't just one of the funniest male protagonists I've had the pleasure of reading about, but one of the funniest narrators in young adult fiction. His stubbornness mixed with naivety and love of having a "good time" leaves him in some of the strangest and funniest encounters that left me genuinely laughing (think: running butt naked from the palace of Versailles, as party guests watch on, horrified).

There are bodies buried beneath the flagstones of my parents' estate, and some graves never green.

But Monty doesn't just manage to get himself into some very unfortunate and funny situations, he is also a bisexual man who has survived abuse, who's closest friend and love of his life is Percy - a disabled man of colour. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue is an important story beyond the fun and adventure for a lot of reasons. Reasons that helped me fall even more in love with it. It's a story that portrays people with disabilities as having always existed, and not as people that need to be "fixed". As people who are lovable. It has an interracial and gay romance that portrays the realism of the racism and homophobia they would have faced at the time while still giving the readers a wonderfully happy and satisfying story (something we definitely need more of). It gives us a main character who has survived abuse and finds himself happy and safe and strong on the other side.

Monty's story is one of self growth. We watch as he grows as a person to understand his own privilege and advantages in life, and as he uses it to help those less privileged than he is. It's about finding what he needs and wants to be, what means the most to him and how important his friends are to him. It's ultimately a story of independence and becoming a better man, of friendship, of understanding and acceptance for those you care for, and it's about love. An added bonus, it just happens to have pirates. It's absolutely fantastic.

Title: More Happy Than Not
Author: Adam Silvera
Genres: Young adult, contemporary, romance, science fiction
Published: June 2nd 2015, by Soho Teen
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In his twisty, gritty, profoundly moving debut—called “mandatory reading” by the New York Times—Adam Silvera brings to life a charged, dangerous near-future summer in the Bronx. 
In the months after his father's suicide, it's been tough for 16-year-old Aaron Soto to find happiness again--but he's still gunning for it. With the support of his girlfriend Genevieve and his overworked mom, he's slowly remembering what that might feel like. But grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist prevent him from forgetting completely.
When Genevieve leaves for a couple of weeks, Aaron spends all his time hanging out with this new guy, Thomas. Aaron's crew notices, and they're not exactly thrilled. But Aaron can't deny the happiness Thomas brings or how Thomas makes him feel safe from himself, despite the tensions their friendship is stirring with his girlfriend and friends. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound feelings for him, he considers turning to the Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-alteration procedure to straighten himself out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.
Why does happiness have to be so hard?

“Sometimes pain is so unmanageable that the idea of spending another day with it seems impossible. Other times pain acts as a compass to help you through the messier tunnels of growing up. But pain can only help you find happiness if you remember it.”

"I can't believe I was once that guy who carved a smile into his wrist because he couldn't find happiness, that guy who thought he would find it in death."

Title: Boy Meets Boy
Author: David Levithan
Genres: Young adult, contemporary, romance
Published: May 10th 2005, by Alfred A. Knopf
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This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.
When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.
This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world.

 I enjoyed Boy Meets Boy. It’s short, sweet, funny, and very touching. David Levithan is great at painting characters so well and making you feel like you truly know them with nothing more than a few lines of dialogue. It’s quick witted and relatable. The world that’s painted in Boy Meets Boy is exactly how I wish my high school years were – LGBT kids growing up in a close knit and supportive community, a town where homophobia seems to blissfully be a thing of the past. It’s a great form of escapism from reality, but in the end, it's hard not to see it as something that's all a little too good to be true.

“I find my greatest strength in wanting to be strong. I find my greatest bravery in wanting to be brave […] If there’s no feeling of fear, then there’s no need for courage.”

My favourite thing about Boy Meets Boy was the side characters and the friendships. Paul’s friendship with his best friend Tony is so precious and caring and I loved them more than anything else. Tony as a character was perhaps my favourite, I (like Paul) felt an immense need to protect him and help him seek happiness and freedom from his exhausting parents. I loved his quiet companionship with Paul, their secret language and the support they gave each other. Another character who made this book for me was Infinite Darlene, the star quarterback/homecoming queen - she’s hilarious and perfect.

On the other end we have Joni, Paul’s other best friend who honestly… She’s easily dislikeable. Despite both her best friends being gay, she continuously falls for grossly homophobic guys and pushes her friends aside for her boyfriend’s wants and attention. I found it nearly impossible to sympathize with her in any way (I would be angry with her too, Paul).

What honestly let down Boy Meets Boy a little bit was the strange love triangle. I am not the biggest fan of love triangles, I find them played out, but I’m usually more tolerant when it comes to love triangles in LGBT fiction. This was a strange one however, I was super torn and felt a little all over the place especially considering Paul’s main love interest Noah has only been around for like 2 weeks. They were cute, but I did find it hard to get invested in such an insta-love relationship and feel like this was True Love after such a short time. I found myself a lot more interested in Paul’s friendships and the other characters than his romantic relationships.

Boy Meets Boy was a quick, cute, funny (if a little unbelievable at times) read. Even though I wasn’t too emotionally attached to the relationship, what really made it for me was Paul’s friendships, particularly with his best friend Tony. They had such a touching friendship and Tony’s side story and development was definitely what I was most invested in, and ultimately was what made me enjoy this Boy Meets Boy.

Title: Carry On (The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow)
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Genres: Young adult, fantasy, romance
Published: October 6th 2015, by St. Martin's Griffin
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Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen.
That's what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time, Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he starts something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around, wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here — it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
Carry On - The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you'd expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

If I'm being completely honest, I went into this book not expecting to enjoy it very much. This isn't my first Rainbow Rowell book, but it is the first of her books I've finished. I first tried Eleanor & Park (which, to be honest, I found kind of racist), then Fangirl, which I also never finished, and I didn't really get the appeal (despite Baz & Simon originating there). So, understandably, I didn't go into Carry On with very high expectations. But there's been so much praise, and I do love a mlm fantasy, so I figured I would give it a go. Turns out, I was pretty pleasantly surprised.

So, the most obvious thing to address is the similarities with Harry Potter; the chosen one, the magic school, the trio of friends battling an ominous foe. When I first started Carry On all I could see were the similarities between the books, and it really really bothered me. Thankfully, it became a story of its own, and soon it didn't feel like I was reading anything like Harry Potter. This mostly happened once Baz, Simon's vampire roommate, turned up. He is instantly likeable, and once he arrives in the story, it picks up pace from a slow impatience inducing crawl to excitement and intrigue, and to romance. And to, at times, some really funny moments.

Once the story picks up, Carry On definitely becomes a page turner. There is so much mystery to the story, and to Simon's place in it the World of Mages, to his magic, to his past. Parts of this mystery were easily deducible, some things I figured out from about 150 pages in. Though I was kept questioning if my theories were right, it just felt like less of a shock or twist than perhaps it was supposed to be when everything came to light for the characters. It was fun to watch Simon, Penelope, and Baz figure it all out, if sometimes a little aggravating when it seemed so obvious to the reader.

Carry On was a strange mix of humour and darkness, a mix of funny moments and very tense and high stakes fantasy. It somehow worked really well. The small details (like spells being cast as nursery rhymes, or moments of genuine creepiness) blend well and make it so much more enjoyable to read.

"Those were my fifth-year fantasies: kisses and blood and Snow ridding the world of me." - Baz

And then, there's the romance between Simon and Baz, which is why I decided to read Carry On in the first place. I was not disappointed. At first, Simon was definitely a little frustrating with his animosity for Baz, especially after reading Baz's point of view and as their relationship progressed. But as it did progress, it was so lovely to see them grow and as Simon realised his feelings, their interactions were so perfect and I ended up loving these two so much. Their romance was my favourite part of this book. It definitely did frustrate me to see the bi erasure of Simon Snow though (bisexuality exists, Rainbow Rowell).

I also really liked Penelope, she's a fantastic character, and despite her similarities with Hermione Granger she is so much her own character and I loved her interactions with Simon and Baz, and their friendship. I'm, still not too sure what to think of Agatha, I'm not really sure whether or not we're supposed to like her, and most of the time she just really really annoyed me. I feel like this is partly because of how she is written, and under different circumstances I could have liked her.

Despite the slow beginning, the similarities with Harry Potter, and the bi erasure, I did love the relationship between Simon and Baz, they made Carry On for me - I adore them so much. I am still going to be very hesitant with any of Rainbow Rowell's books but, I'm glad I found one I genuinely enjoyed, and a relationship I fell in love with.

Title: Lord of Shadows
Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Dark Artifices (book #2)
Genres: Young adult, fantasy, paranormal, romance
Published: May 23rd 2017, by Margaret K. McElderry Books
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Would you trade your soul mate for your soul?
 A Shadowhunter’s life is bound by duty. Constrained by honor. The word of a Shadowhunter is a solemn pledge, and no vow is more sacred than the vow that binds parabatai, warrior partners—sworn to fight together, die together, but never to fall in love. Emma Carstairs has learned that the love she shares with her  parabatai, Julian Blackthorn, isn’t just forbidden—it could destroy them both. She knows she should run from Julian. But how can she when the Blackthorns are threatened by enemies on all sides?
Their only hope is the Black Volume of the Dead, a spell book of terrible power. Everyone wants it. Only the Blackthorns can find it. Spurred on by a dark bargain with the Seelie Queen, Emma; her best friend, Cristina; and Mark and Julian Blackthorn journey into the Courts of Faerie, where glittering revels hide bloody danger and no promise can be trusted. Meanwhile, rising tension between Shadowhunters and Downworlders has produced the Cohort, an extremist group of Shadowhunters dedicated to registering Downworlders and “unsuitable” Nephilim. They’ll do anything in their power to expose Julian’s secrets and take the Los Angeles Institute for their own.
When Downworlders turn against the Clave, a new threat rises in the form of the Lord of Shadows—the Unseelie King, who sends his greatest warriors to slaughter those with Blackthorn blood and seize the Black Volume. As dangers close in, Julian devises a risky scheme that depends on the cooperation of an unpredictable enemy. But success may come with a price he and Emma cannot even imagine, one that will bring with it a reckoning of blood that could have repercussions for everyone and everything they hold dear.

I almost hate to admit it but, I was looking forward to Lord of Shadows. Lady Midnight definitely gave me a new-found excitement for Cassandra Clare's books, one I didn't have for a long time. So I found myself anticipating Lord of Shadows and buying it almost as soon as it hit shelves, and I'm so glad to say I wasn't disappointed.

I have to say, there is something almost comforting opening a Shadowhunters Chronicles novel. You know what you're getting. You know the world, the characters, the writing style. You know what to expect. Which sometimes can let her writing down, but mostly it makes Cassandra Clare's novels so easy to slip inside of and enjoy, and so far The Dark Artifices series is her most enjoyable.

Most importantly, the characters are likeable. It's so hard to enjoy a novel, to feel things for characters; to feel their joy and their sadness, when they are unlikeable or unrelatable. I missed Emma and Cristina, Ty, Mark, even Julian so much since Lady Midnight. The way the characters interact, their relationships, the dynamic of the Blackthorn family is such an important part of this series, it's almost impossible not to feel like you know every character so well, and to love them, and to root for them too.

Lord of Shadows was set significantly in the fae world and in London, and it was both exciting and relaxing to be in new and familiar ground. There were nods to other storylines and characters in the series, making me excited for The Last Hours, and I enjoyed the little references to The Infernal Devices. The fae world was portrayed well as intoxicating and enticing and a dangerous world, I loved the chapters set there.

I feel like the one thing that lets this series down even slightly is the main romance between characters Emma and Julian. I find it relatively hard to invest in them, the side characters and relationships are so much more interesting. Some new dynamics evolved in this sequel that I loved. Primarily, a possible polamory relationship (thank you for not keeping this a love triangle) which I'm so excited to see develop. Kit and Ty's relationship (one of my favourites) is growing and I loved to see their interactions and watching them grow into themselves.

One of my absolute favourite parts of this novel is the introduction to a transgender character. Her narrative is surprisingly well done and interesting. Her involvement goes beyond her identity as being a trans woman, she is given a family, a romantic interest, a plot line, and character depth. I'm really excited for where her story goes. I also appreciated Cassandra Clare acknowledging Ty as having Autism, this series is turning out to be a lot more diverse than her others.

The ending was... Intense. I'm both excited and nervous for the last instalment. I have fallen so in love with the characters and dynamics, and now that is dangerous, because none of them are safe. I just hope Cassandra Clare knows well enough to give our LGBT characters happy endings.

Title: Bad Boy
Author: Elliot Wake
Genres: New adult, thriller, contemporary, romance
Published: December 6th 2016, by Atria
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Vlog star Renard Grant has nothing to prove: he’s got a pretty face, chiseled body, and two million adoring video subscribers. Plus the scars on his chest and a prescription for testosterone. Because Ren is transgender: assigned female at birth, living now as male. He films his transition and shares it bravely with the world; his fans love his honesty and positivity.
But Ren has been living a double life.
Off-camera, he’s Cane, the muscle-bound enforcer for social justice vigilante group Black Iris. As Cane, he lets his dark side loose. Hurts those who prey on the disempowered. Indulges in the ugly side of masculinity. And his new partner, Tamsin Baylor, is a girl as rough and relentless as him. Together, they terrorize the trolls into silence.
But when a routine Black Iris job goes south, Ren is put in the crosshairs. Someone is out to ruin his life. He’s a bad boy, they say, guilty of what he punishes others for.
Just like every other guy: at heart, he’s a monster, too.
Now Ren’s got everything to prove. He has to clear his name, and show the world he’s a good man. But that requires facing demons he’s locked away for years. And it might mean discovering he’s not such a good guy after all.

This is not my first Elliot Wake novel. My first was Black Iris, which I loved. It was powerful and gritty and dark in a satisfying way that made you want to keep reading. Bad Boy was too, but I have a lot of conflicting emotions on it. Though Bad Boy is technically a stand alone novel, it is part of a larger story arch and world created by Elliot Wake involving characters from his earlier novels. This, I feel, makes it both more and less enjoyable to read.

Lets start with what I enjoyed: I loved reading a novel about a transgender guy, written by a transgender guy, and in a context where the entire story is not about being trans. This was probably my favourite part of this novel. As a trans guy I'm always looking for more fiction with good representation and stories that are not entirely based around trans identity and struggles, but rather stories that just happen to have transgender characters.

Though this story is very much about the main character Ren and his gender identity, it is also a thriller, a romance, and a revenge story. I really enjoyed the romance between the two main characters. Tamsin, the love interest, a woman of colour, is badass and likeable, and has just enough of a dark past to work so perfectly well with Ren, as both a 'partner in crime' and a girlfriend.

I also loved the writing of Bad Boy; something I also loved about Black Iris. Elliot Wake has a beautiful writing style, lyrical, in a gritty and believable way that really manages to grasp onto you and leave a lasting impression. His writing flows so well into making you read and digest the story so effortlessly. I enjoyed reading about characters I knew from Black Iris, and new faces I met both from previous Elliot Wake novels I haven't read, and whole new characters, some likeable, others... Not so much.

But then... There are some things I liked less. Bad Boy was definitely a wild ride, and for the most part that worked in it's favour. There is definitely something exciting in a thriller to never know who you can trust in any given situation. However, there were so many twists and turns, betrayals and shocks that at times it was almost a little silly and messy. It was hard to trust any character even after they proved themselves loyal, which made it especially hard to look at characters from Black Iris in the same way, which was sad for me as I did love those characters.

The ending conclusion is ultimately shocking and well done. Bad Boy definitely faces the topics of transphobia and TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) head-on. It also broaches the subject of toxic masculinity, abusive friendships, and violent misogyny. This I definitely respect and enjoyed about this novel. Elliot Wake's writing doesn't shy away from writing what is real and what it sometimes hurts to read about. And though there were some things I liked less about Bad Boy, I am looking forward to Elliot Wake's next novel.


A quick warning: there is quite a lot of graphic contect that could potentially be triggering for some readers, especially in relation to body dysphoria, transphobia, abuse, and sexual assault.